Household tax- Clare Daly

Leading Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes activists announce first steps of building non-payment campaign National Organising Forum of Campaign to take place next Saturday at 1:30pm in Teacher's Club in 36 Parnell Square "Minister Phil Hogan's statement yesterday that people will 'pay through the nose' for water is a true indication of what ordinary people will be faced with in a short few years if the government gets its way. "Despite his other utterances about the recently announced Household Charge being 'only €100' people well understand that as we seen with the bin tax this is but a first stage of what ESRI economist John Fitzgerald estimates will be combined water and property taxes of over €1,000 per annum. "Early indications from street stalls activities and door to door canvases by activists in communities alongside opinion polls show deep opposition in society to these charges and a widespread willingness to engage in an active boycott campaign. "A number of left political groups, residents associations and ordinary community and trade union activists have initiated the Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes. We see ourselves building a mass campaign of non-payment throughout the country in the same tradition as the successful Anti Water Charges Campaign of the 1990s. "Already some 80 to 100 public meetings are being planned for every community in Dublin and city and county. This Saturday's National Organising Forum is intended to equip people who want to fight the charge from across the country with the know-how for building campaigns of non-payment in their community. Anybody who wants to fight this charge is welcome to attend. "Before this unjust Household Charge is implemented in January there will be in place a visible campaign capable of getting information into the communities and responding to every threat that comes from the government to bully people into payment. It is well understood by many working people and the unemployed that this charge is simply another austerity measure at the behest of the EU/IMF which won't boost the services provided by our local authorities. People are at breaking point and the Household Charge alongside other cuts and impositions will provoke an inevitable fightback." For information and confirmation Malachy Steenson (Association of Combined Residents Associations) 086 6024239 Tom Crilly (Workers Party) 087 2937558 John O'Neill (Irish Socialist Network) 0872762719 Cllr. Cieran Perry 087 9393331 Gregor Kerr (Workers Solidarity Movement) 086 1501151 Stewart Reddin (éirígí) 086 2146746 Frank Keoghan (People's Movement) 087 2308330 Joe Higgins TD (Socialist Party/United Left Alliance) c/o 087 2400331 Joan Collins TD (People Before Profit/United Left Alliance) 086 3888151 Cllr Brid Smith (Socialist Workers Party/United Left Alliance) 087 9090166